V-wing Starfighter - TAC - Vehicles

The V-wing fighter gives clone troopers a nimble, responsive craft that can keep up with the agile Jedi starfighters and hold its own in a dogfight against droid fighters. The wings open in a "v" shape that enhances maneuverability and speed. Two pairs of cannons put ample firepower at the fingertips of the pilot. V-wing fighters escort Palpatine’s ship during the Emperor’s solemn journey to retrieve Darth Vader, who was critically wounded after his shattering battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar.

There were a ton of vehicles released in the 30 (77-07) toy line but not too many of them were all-new sculpts. But the all-new sculpts they did produce really wowed fans. One of these all-new vehicles was the V-wing Starfighter. The V-wing Starfighter is a visually stunning toy that has also been very well-made. Unlike the repetitious Jedi starfighters, this vehicle has substance and uniqueness that we normally don't see in this vehicle scale. As mentioned, while the line was loaded with repacked or slightly repainted vehicles, toys like the V-wing Starfighter showed that Hasbro had the ability to interest kids and collectors with great results. The V-wing Starfighter wasn’t too visible in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, but they did accompany Emperor Palpatine to Mustafar so he could check on the status of the newly knighted Darth Vader. Although an obscure vehicle in the film, it became a priority for Hasbro to tool and they did a brilliant job with it. Most collectors were delighted with its release. The V-wing Starfighter may not be perfect, but for us it’s an impressive release and we love what it brings to the 3.75” scaled action figure line.

The V-wing Starfighter vehicle itself is a very functional vehicle. It has many interlocking parts and is articulated in places you might not expect it to be. Let's run through some of its features. The V-wing Starfighter has a roomy opening cockpit and has the ability to accommodate almost every clone trooper action figure (we could find at least) from the many basic figure lines Hasbro has produced. But that's not all. It’s rare when we approve of action features, but we actually are fond of the one included with the wings of the vehicle. The wings can be articulated into a parking mode and lock into place. (When released, they spread widely and away from the vehicle and give it a much larger stature. It’s pretty awesome.) And then you can push in the top exhaust port and it releases the legs. When locked into place, they act as landing gear for the vehicle when parked. Think of how a bat’s feet are attached to its wings. It’s the same exact principle here. Hasbro didn’t miss a beat with this vehicle. Collectors are going to find the joy this vehicle will bring to their collections. Aside from the too small R2 (R4?) unit in the droid socket, this vehicle shines. We really wish they tooled a functioning droid socket!

There is also a third leg that pulls out from the hull of the V-wing Starfighter for complete balancing support. Other features include adjustable ailerons (which are actually more of a nuisance than anything else) and adjustable stabilizers. The vehicle also fires projectiles from four cannons and this is a great feature for the kids. You get a lot of part with the V-wing Starfighter. You feel like you’re getting a nice amount of plastic here and the $19.99 is completely fair. In fact we think it is generous. How about those paint operations? Well, the V-wing Starfighter is beautiful. You're going to approve of them. The V-wing Starfighter is a solid vehicle. Hasbro did right by from the start and it will be hard to age throughout the years. It has made other appearances in the comics and other Expanded Universe sources, so we imagine that a repaint or two could be in the works for Hasbro make the most out of this tooling. But be sure to grab this one because you’ll be missing out if you don’t. Available in the third wave of the 30 (77-07) line, the V-wing Starfighter will undoubtedly become a staple vehicle in the Star Wars toy line for years to come.